Wire-fence tightener



(No Model.)

B; WARNER.

WIRE FENCE TIGHTENER.

l I W WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT Grinch.

EBENEZER WARNER, OF TOMAH, WISCONSIN.

WIRE=FENCE TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,046, datedSeptember 25, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, EBENEZER WARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tomah, in the county of Monroe and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Tighteners;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to wire-stretchers, and has for its object theprovision of a device for taking up slack in awire when the wire is tooloose and for loosening the said wire when the tension thereof is toogreat, which will be simple, capable ofbeing readily applied,cheap,efficient, and durable.

The stretcher consists of a Windlass having a lever or arm and a pivotedcatch at the end of the lever. This pivoted catch forms an extension ofthe lever when turned parallel therewith-and forms a look when turnedcrosswise of the lever.

The improvement consists in the peculiar construction and combination.of the parts, which hereinafter will be more fully described andclaimed, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a sideview of a section of fence embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a perspectiveview of the wire-tightening device on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 3 aperspective view of a modification.

The fence is composed of the longitudinal wires A and the fence-posts Band O. The posts B are the main posts and are set up first in theconstruction of the fence, and are capable of being rotated to tightenthe wire, thereby performing the function of a Windlass. The posts 0 areintermediate supports between the posts or windlasses B. The Windlass orpost has a journal, I), at its lower end, which is stepped in a blockset in the ground, and is provided with a flange, b, which overlaps theopening in the block and prevents the entrance of wet dirt, 850.,therein, besides steadying the post. The kerf d, formed in the Windlassor post, extends from the top of the said post to within a shortdistance of its lower end and is adapted to receive the fencewires,which are clamped between the two parts of the said post. The lever orarm D is formed of two corresponding parts which are secured to or forma part of the post or Windlass. The short arms (1 of the parts of thelever are secured together by the bolt 6, and the long arms d of thesaid parts are held together bythe bolt 0. The pivoted catch E is placedbetween the parts of the lever and is mounted on the bolt 0. When theframe is set up, the wires composing it can be stretched or slackened,as required, by rotating the post to the right or the left, as desired.The catch E is first turned parallel with the lever D to pass betweenthe fence-wires. When the desired tension on the fence-wires isobtained, the catch E is turned to set crosswise of thelever,and,resting against the fence-wires, prevents any retrograde movement of thepost. By leaving off the lower end, b, of the Windlass it is adapted fora wiretightener for general use, and can be applied to a fence alreadyset up.

Fig. 3 shows a modification, in which the post or Windlass B and thelever D are composed of one part, there being no kerf to separate ordivide it. The catch E is pivoted to one side of the lever by the pivotor bolt e The wires are held to the post in any desired manner, as bythe hooks F.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. In a wire fence, the combination,with the fence-wires, of the posthaving the fence-wires connected therewith, and having ajournal at itslower end, which journal is adapted to he stepped in a block in theground, and is provided with a flange at its upper end to overlap thesides of the opening in the block in which the said journal is stepped,the lever forming a part of the post, and the catch pivoted to the saidlever and adapted to form an extension of the lever and to set crosswiseof the fence-wires and engage therewith to prevent the post turning backwhen the said wires are tightened, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fence, the combination, with the fence-wires, of the post havingajournal at its lower end and having its upper portion sepav rated ordivided into two longitudinal halves In testimony whereof I aliixnlysignatui'e in by a kerf, the lever composed of two correpresence oftwo witnesses. spondin parts which are carried by the parts of the windlass, the bolts for securing the parts EBENEZER' WARNER 5 of the levertogether, and the catch placed be- \iVitnesses:

tween the parts of the lever and mounted on A. I. LAOEY,

one of the said bolts, substantially as specified. S. SPEOHT.

